Christmas is a time of joy, peace and generosity for most people. But what about the super-rich, the billionaires who have more money than they can ever spend? How do they celebrate the festive season? Do they splurge on lavish gifts, extravagant parties and exotic vacations? Or do they keep it simple, humble and charitable? In this article, we will reveal some of the secrets of how billionaires such as Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and others spend their Christmas holidays. You might be surprised by what you learn!
Elon Musk: A Sci-Fi Christmas
Elon Musk, the visionary CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, is known for his passion for science fiction and futuristic technology. He has said that his favorite sci-fi book from his youth is “Stranger in a Strange Land” by Robert Heinlein, which tells the story of a human who was raised on Mars by Martians. He also loves the “Star Wars” movies and has a collection of memorabilia from the franchise. So it is not surprising that Musk likes to celebrate Christmas with a sci-fi twist. In 2015, he gave his then-wife Talulah Riley a custom-made lightsaber as a gift. In 2017, he posted a video of his employees wearing Star Wars costumes and having a lightsaber duel at the SpaceX headquarters. And in 2018, he tweeted a photo of himself wearing a spacesuit and holding a baby Yoda doll, captioned “Merry Christmas from the BFR” (referring to his planned rocket for colonizing Mars).
But Musk’s sci-fi Christmas is not all fun and games. He also uses the holiday season as an opportunity to work on his ambitious projects and push the boundaries of innovation. In 2019, he unveiled the Cybertruck, a futuristic electric pickup truck that looks like something out of a dystopian movie. In 2020, he launched a Starship prototype, a reusable rocket that could eventually take humans to Mars. And in 2021, he announced that he had moved to Texas, where he plans to build a city called Starbase and a resort called Starship Hotel. Musk’s Christmas motto seems to be: “The future is now”.
Bill Gates: A Bookish Christmas
Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and one of the world’s richest and most philanthropic people, is an avid reader who reads at least 50 books each year. He regularly shares his book recommendations on his blog and social media, and often gives books as gifts to his friends and family. In fact, he has a tradition of sending personalized book packages to some of the world’s most influential people, such as Barack Obama, Warren Buffett, Oprah Winfrey and Mark Zuckerberg. He carefully selects the books based on the recipients’ interests and preferences, and writes a note explaining why he chose them. Some of the books he has gifted include “The Better Angels of Our Nature” by Steven Pinker, “Factfulness” by Hans Rosling, “Sapiens” by Yuval Noah Harari and “The Rosie Project” by Graeme Simsion.
Gates also likes to receive books as gifts, especially from his wife Melinda, who knows his taste well. In 2014, she gave him a rare copy of “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, signed by the author. In 2016, she gave him a book of poetry by Leonard Cohen, titled “Book of Longing”. And in 2018, she gave him a book of essays by David Foster Wallace, titled “String Theory”. Gates enjoys reading these books during his Christmas vacation, which he usually spends with his family at their home in Washington or at their ranch in California. He also likes to play games, watch movies and do puzzles with his children. Gates’ Christmas motto seems to be: “A book is a gift you can open again and again”.
Mark Zuckerberg: A Meta Christmas
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Facebook and the creator of the Metaverse, is a visionary who wants to transform the way we communicate, connect and experience the world. He believes that the future of social interaction is in virtual reality, where we can create and explore immersive digital environments with our friends and family. He has invested billions of dollars in developing the technology and platforms for the Metaverse, such as Oculus, Horizon and Meta. He has also demonstrated some of the features and possibilities of the Metaverse in his presentations and videos, such as teleporting to different locations, playing games, attending concerts and having meetings.
So it is not surprising that Zuckerberg likes to celebrate Christmas in the Metaverse, where he can escape the limitations and challenges of the physical world. Instead of traveling to see his relatives, he simply puts on his VR goggles and joins them in a customized digital environment, such as a cozy winter cabin, a tropical island or a space station. He can also invite his friends and colleagues from around the world to join him in the Metaverse, where they can chat, exchange gifts and have fun. And he can even create and interact with avatars of his deceased or distant relatives, such as his great-great-uncle Harry, who died last year, or his dog Beast, who lives in Hawaii. Zuckerberg’s Christmas motto seems to be: “The Metaverse is where you want to be”.
Other Billionaires: A Controversial Christmas
Of course, not all billionaires celebrate Christmas in the same way. Some of them have more controversial or eccentric ways of spending the holiday season, which may not always be well-received by the public or the media. Here are some examples of how other billionaires have celebrated Christmas in the past:
- Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon and the owner of Blue Origin, has been accused of being stingy and greedy by his critics, who claim that he does not pay enough taxes, treat his workers fairly, or donate enough to charity. In 2017, he posted a photo of himself wearing a robotic suit at a secret Amazon conference, which sparked comparisons to the villainous Lex Luthor from the Superman comics. In 2019, he announced that he was divorcing his wife of 25 years, MacKenzie Scott, after having an affair with a TV anchor, Lauren Sanchez. And in 2021, he flew to space in his own rocket, which some people saw as a waste of money and a display of ego.
- Richard Branson, the founder and CEO of Virgin Group and the owner of Virgin Galactic, is known for his adventurous and flamboyant personality, which often leads him to perform stunts and break records. In 2007, he dressed up as a female flight attendant and served drinks on an AirAsia flight, after losing a bet with the airline’s CEO, Tony Fernandes. In 2013, he wore a Santa Claus suit and rode a jet ski with a model, Kate Winslet, on his private island, Necker Island. And in 2021, he also flew to space in his own rocket, beating his rival, Jeff Bezos, by nine days.
- Donald Trump, the former president of the United States and the owner of the Trump Organization, is known for his controversial and divisive politics, which have polarized the nation and the world. In 2016, he spent his first Christmas as president-elect at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where he tweeted about his victory and criticized his opponents. In 2018, he spent his second Christmas as president in the White House, where he complained about the government shutdown and the border wall. And in 2020, he spent his last Christmas as president at his golf club in Virginia, where he refused to concede the election and spread false claims of fraud.
Conclusion
As you can see, billionaires celebrate Christmas in different ways, depending on their personalities, interests and values. Some of them enjoy the traditional aspects of the holiday, such as spending time with their family, reading books and giving gifts. Others prefer to embrace the futuristic and innovative aspects of the holiday, such as exploring the Metaverse, flying to space and creating avatars. And others choose to indulge in the controversial and eccentric aspects of the holiday, such as performing stunts, breaking records and making headlines. Whatever their style, one thing is clear: billionaires celebrate Christmas like no one else.